The Penguins were playing without Ben Kindel, Bryan Rust, and Egor Chinakhov. They’d lost four games in a row and they were playing one of the Eastern Conference’s best teams. So, naturally, they…won!
Here Paul Steigerwald.
The news was encouraging for Ben Kindel, the 19-year-old second-year forward who collapsed on the Penguins flight home from Utah on Tuesday night. President of Hockey Operations Kyle Dubas said Kindel suffered a vasovagal episode, where the heart rate and blood pressure suddenly drop and cause the victim to fall unconscious. Kindel is back home now and undergoing tests to see if there is an underlying cause, but is expected to rejoin the lineup as early as next week, with no lingering effects.
Bryan Rust will be out long-term with an undisclosed injury. The veteran top-line winger left Tuesday’s game in Utah in the second period. It will be at least six weeks before he can resume skating and then a conditioning phase will follow.
Forward Egor Chinakhov took part in the morning skate but did not play with a lower body injury. He is listed as day-to-day.
Defenseman Sam Girard remained out of the lineup last night with a suspected right arm injury. He was hurt last Saturday against Vegas.
